How to Access Your HomePod's Settings

[MacRumors]

If you're new to HomePod and don't regularly use the "Home" app for HomeKit devices, you might be wondering how you get to the HomePod's settings, because it's not immediately obvious.

HomePod is controlled entirely through Apple's Home app, much like any other HomeKit-compatible accessory. Accessing HomePod settings is simple once you know where to go, so here's how:

1. Open the Home app.
2. You'll see a main page that says "My Home" or "[Your Name]'s Home," with either a series of cards or just the HomePod card if it's your only HomeKit device.
   
   
3. Tap the HomePod card.
4. Scroll down past the media playback controls, alarms, and timers to see the available HomePod settings. You can also tap the cog icon below the timers section.

When you're done looking at the settings of your HomePod, you can get back to the main Home screen by tapping the X in the top-right corner of the screen.

Available HomePod Settings

In a HomePod's settings, you can change the name of your HomePod (tap where it says HomePod), change the room it is assigned to, add it to your Home favorites, manage automations, change your Siri settings, activate Accessibility features, turn off your Listening history, and more.

Secondary HomePod Settings

Confusingly, there are actually two separate settings sections for the HomePod in the Home app, so if you want to get to options like accessing software updates, you need to go to another section of the app. This split will actually make more sense when there are more AirPlay 2 speakers on the market, which will also be controlled through the Home app, and it also makes sense if you have multiple HomePod speakers. Here's how to get to the other settings:

1. On the main page of the Home app, tap the ellipsis button (three encircled dots) in the top-right corner.
2. Tap Home Settings in the dropdown menu.
3. Choose your home by tapping on it if you have more than one.

In this section of the app, you can see your list of home hubs, which includes the HomePod, and access the Software Update feature for downloading new software to the HomePod.

Even more settings are available if you tap on your HomeKit profile, which should be under your name. This is the area where you need to go to be able to turn off personal requests if you don't want HomePod to be able to do things like read your messages, create notes, and more.

Article Link: How to Access Your HomePod's Settings

 

[awdodson24]

It should be noted that if you aren’t the ‘owner of your home’ in HomeKit, you cannot set up a HomePod. I’m away from home for the weekend and my wife wanted to set up our new Homepods, but couldn’t because of this unstated requirement. She has edit and remote access to our home, but you can’t add a device, apparently.

I messaged with Apple Support on Twitter, but they won’t admit that it’s a requirement (for now) that you need to be the home owner. That’s a little disappointing because I was hoping my wife could set one up on her account upstairs and mine would be downstairs.

 

[jaack]

Does anyone know what the “Sound Check” and “Sound When Using Siri” settings do?

 

[DisNerd]

Does anyone know what the “Sound Check” and “Sound When Using Siri” settings do?

Sound check takes out the dynamic volume in songs so you can check levels. It's something most people won't ever need to use. Sound for Siri makes a little sound if you say hey siri and wait before giving a command.

 

[dan9700]

can't even set up my homepod as my home up just says loading senses and apple need to reset my HomeKit data in the cloud but they are taking for ever so for now wasted my money

 

[foobarbaz]

Sound check takes out the dynamic volume in songs so you can check levels. It's something most people won't ever need to use. Sound for Siri makes a little sound if you say hey siri and wait before giving a command.

No, Sound Check is something everyone should use.

It makes all songs have the same average volume (a.k.a. Normalization). It has been a feature in iTunes and iPods for decades.

It does not reduce dynamic volume like “reduce loud sounds” on Apple TV

 

[jacjustjac]

Once again, Apple makes amazing hardware, but releases them with the software unfinished or just plain messy.

I know that’s the industry standard now, but it’s not as complicated as a phone or a smart watch. The fact that they need to advertise features coming in a future update means they don’t have the confidence in what it can do on launch day either.

 

[db1223]

Does anyone know what the “Sound Check” and “Sound When Using Siri” settings do?

Sound Check is the feature that 'normalizes' sound from the speakers, ensuring some songs don't blast you. It's s similar feature on other speakers and entertainment systems, just called something else.

Sound When Using Siri toggles on/off a beep after you say "Hey Siri" so you know when it's ready to hear your command.

 

[organicCPU]

Do you need an iOS device for setting up a HomePod or can you do this on macOS, e.g. with iTunes, too?

 

[democracyrules]

If you're new to HomePod and don't regularly use the "Home" app for HomeKit devices, you might be wondering how you get to the HomePod's settings, because it's not immediately obvious.

HomePod is controlled entirely through Apple's Home app, much like any other HomeKit-compatible accessory. Accessing HomePod settings is simple once you know where to go, so here's how:

1. Open the Home app.
   
2. You'll see a main page that says "My Home" or "[Your Name]'s Home," with either a series of icons or just the HomePod icon if it's your only HomeKit device.
   
   
   
   
3. 3D Touch or long press on the HomePod icon.
   
4. Tap "Details."

When you're done looking at the settings of your HomePod, you can get back to the main Home screen by tapping on "Done" and then tapping again on the HomePod screen in the app.

Available HomePod Settings

After tapping on details, you get access to a whole selection of HomePod settings. You can change the name of your HomePod (tap where it says HomePod), change your Siri settings, activate Accessibility features, turn off your Listening history, and more.

Secondary HomePod Settings

Confusingly, there are actually two separate settings sections for the HomePod in the Home app, so if you want to get to options like accessing software updates, you need to go to another section of the app. This split will actually make more sense when there are more AirPlay 2 speakers on the market, which will also be controlled through the Home app, and it also makes sense if you have multiple HomePod speakers. Here's how to get to the other settings:

1. On the main page of the Home app, tap the small arrow in the upper left corner.
   
2. Tap "Home Settings."
   
   
   
   
3. Choose your home by tapping on it if you have more than one.

In this section of the app, you can see your list of home hubs, which includes the HomePod, and access the Software Update feature for downloading new software to the HomePod.

Even more settings are available if you tap on your HomeKit profile, which should be under your name. This is the area where you need to go to be able to turn off personal requests if you don't want HomePod to be able to do things like read your messages, create notes, and more.

It's not really clear why Apple has split HomeKit controls up into two distinct sections of the app because it makes it difficult to manage all of the different aspects of the HomePod, but hopefully this how to should help new HomePod owners find the settings they need.

Article Link: How to Access Your HomePod's Settings

Thank you, MR for superb information!!

 

[rtomyj]

No, Sound Check is something everyone should use.

It makes all songs have the same average volume (a.k.a. Normalization). It has been a feature in iTunes and iPods for decades.

It does not reduce dynamic volume like “reduce loud sounds” on Apple TV

Yup! I'd also like to add that if you have a mix of older recordings and newer ones that sound check will be a godsend where you don't have to keep adjusting the volume per song basis. You won't get blasted by the sound change between songs.

 

[seatton]

I notice the Apple TV icon in the first screenshot. Can anybody tell me how to add my Apple TV so it will show up like that too? I have the newest Apple TV 4K, but it does not show up there.

 

[jclo]

I notice the Apple TV icon in the first screenshot. Can anybody tell me how to add my Apple TV so it will show up like that too? I have the newest Apple TV 4K, but it does not show up there.

This is a feature coming in tvOS 11.3/iOS 11.3. You can get it now by installing the tvOS 11.3 and iOS 11.3 public betas.

 

[JDShkolnik]

I have two HomePods; one has the setting to control Siri’s language and voice, the other doesn't.

 

[seatton]

This is a feature coming in tvOS 11.3/iOS 11.3. You can get it now by installing the tvOS 11.3 and iOS 11.3 public betas.

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[one creative man]

re: SoundCheck - Music lovers who are sensitive to audio quality will generally not use SoundCheck. Some folks might like it to control dynamics and prevent surprising louder passages. No right or wrong.